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27 persons hospitalised for diarrhoea

REMEDIAL MEASURE: Pattaravakkam residents queue up on Tuesday to collect medicine being distributed by the Ambattur Municipality.

Staff Reporter

The affected people are working in various units of the Ambattur Industrial Estate

CHENNAI: Fortynine persons, including three women, were found to be affected with acute diarrhoeal disorder at Pattaravakkam, Ambattur, since Monday evening. Of this, 25 were admitted in the Communicable Diseases Hospital (CDH), Tondiarpet and the rest were given out-patient treatment.

According to Ambattur municipal officials, the patients, who were from Bihar and Orissa, complained of bouts of vomiting and diarrhoea since Monday evening. The affected persons lived in congested dwellings on Brahmin Street and Mariamman Street and employed in various industrial units in Ambattur Industrial Estate.

While 20 of them were admitted to the CDH on Monday evening, five more were sent to the hospital on Tuesday. Two persons were treated at the Padi health post of the Ambattur Municipality.

Ambattur Municipal Health Officer T. Senthil Kumar said the cause of the outbreak was suspected to be intake of contaminated fish on Monday. Poor sanitary conditions surrounding the dwellings and stagnant sewage in the area could have compounded the problem.

Chennai Corporation health officials said the condition of all the affected were stable. Tests are being carried out for detection of cholera and the results would be known in two days.

On the preventive measures being taken, Ambattur Municipal Commissioner V.Chakrapani said that about 1,100 people in the area were given oral rehydration solution packets and medicines. Besides steps taken to clean the area, a 24-hour health outpost has been set up to monitor similar cases, if any. Measures have been taken to supply the area drinking water with adequate chlorination.

Two house owners and a workers’ agent were called by the police for an enquiry regarding the congested dwelling units and the poor sanitary condition, he said.